Use unleaded gasoline!<\/p>\n
According to the June 1996 Reader's Digest, "Experts estimate
\nthat 600 metric tons of lead fell on Jakarta in 1994, and that
\namount increases annually by 6 percent to 8 percent. Most of the
\nlead comes from vehicle exhaust. Tests of children in congested
\nareas show much higher levels of lead in their urine than in
\nchildren outside Jakarta."<\/p>\n
"Elevated lead levels in the blood can lead to irreversible
\nbrain and nerve damage, a lower IQ, and behavioral and physical
\ndifficulties."<\/p>\n
"Japan, the U.S. and other countries have banned leaded
\ngasoline... Watch for these danger signs of lead poisoning:
\nlethargy, mood swings, irritability, nervous system disorders,
\nstomach distress and body aches."<\/p>\n
These symptoms describe most of the people I know in Jakarta.
\nSeriously, there can't be a more urgent priority for this
\nnation's leaders than to literally "get the lead out" before
\nanother generation of children is damaged. Vulnerable young
\nbodies -- not to mention older ones -- are paying a terrible
\nprice for the dominant mode of transportation.<\/p>\n
I urge the authorities to (1) immediately lower the price of
\nunleaded gasoline (currently it's higher than leaded, which
\nhardly encourages people to switch to unleaded); (2) institute an
\neducational campaign designed to alert the nation to the need of
\nswitching to unleaded; and (3) ban the use of leaded gasoline
\naltogether as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
JOHN CROSBY<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/use-unleaded-gasoline-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }